forties



- J.PORTIER. I GAR COUPLING. 7

No. 73,964. Patented Feb. 4, 1868.

Wiinessm V inrcnior JOHN FORTIER, OF FAIRPORT, NEW Y'GRK.

Letters Patent No. 73,964, dated February 4, 1868.

IMPROVED GAR-COUPLING.

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I110-ALL :WHOM IT MAY concERN:

Be it known that I, JbHN F O RTiER, of- Feiirporhin the countyof Mo'nro'c, nnd State of Ncw York, hereinvented at certain new and useful Improvementin Gar-Couplings; and I 'do hereby declare that'tlic following 'is full rind ex'octdescription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this BP6Clficatiou I Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of tho'eontiguous draw-headset two cars coupledin my improved manner.

Figure 2, a perspective view of the removable head detachcd- Figure 3, a perspective viewoffthe slide and the rubber spring detached. Like lett'crs of rcference indichte corresponding parts in all the figures. My invention consists inthe'special arrangement of a slide'and rubber spring, the slide enclosing or cov'-- .ori'ng thospring to shield it, and the spring a-cting by tension to produce the necessaryrcaction,nnd'hevingits ends so nrrnngcd as to receive the shock nt the extent of back motion, nnd-thcreby prevent injury. The said slide end springare intended to be used in connection with the ordinary coupling-pin and link, in such a. manner. .'as to hold the pin up u'ntilithe link couples when said pin falls, and the link is held extended in the condition for coupling in the opposite direction, I i

As represented inthe drawings, A A. are the contiguous draw-heads of two cars, coupled together by ths ordinary linkand pin, B 0., The-draw-heads themselves arethe same as those ordinarily used, cxccpt'that they r are presided with rcmovnhle hcads,an., in order t'o sidnpt my special invention to the ordinary couplings. Each hettd is costinie single piece, and provided with a. flaring mouth,6, which centres the link as it strikes; narrow throat, a, which holds the link extended, a,nd a-socket, d, for receivingthe coupling-pin. The head is simply slipped ovcrthe drziwfbartill the shoulders st'rille, and it is then secured by screws or otherwise 7 By this means I nmeunblcd tohdept iny invention to ordinary couplings, the flaring mouth of the draw-bends hcing neeessnr'y tocentre the link.

' Between-the si'desff of. the draw-ha: is'situated n. slide, D, consisting of a. hody, g, and-.ends'lhkj'bent downward, as shown..- lA-rnbber spring,E, dttziches to the reurend of the slide; andpalsses forward tinder its body, and atta chcs-a t' i to njstotiondryphrt ofth draw-bar. I The ends]: I: of the spring are madeto project,- as shoivnysothat,atthe e ttcnt'oftlieback motion, the shock will come against thenifentl' thus relieve the blow.

The action willbo 'rezi dily under-stood}. When the coupling-pin isrnised'the slidetwill be drawn forward,- so that thc pin will rest upon it, ns'fsho'irnin red lines, fig. 1. In theoct of coupling the link, striking the end: r thetsl'iglm will' throivfthe'lett'er froiiiundcr the pin, which will then fall andcatolift-helink. -Vlicn'-thu's=caught the pres'sur' oithe slideforwnrd against the link and pin niill'csuse the-link to-be held extended in the proper position fo,r'=coupl-ingwi th the next'czir. By this means there is no need of an operator going between thccnrs,. hutthelcoupiing will Ibc'self-acting. i i

' The'great ndvontogeof this'inventionhresults from the special arrangement ofthe slide and rubbersprin g,

the'slide enclosing or corc'ring the spring'soQ zts-LtoEkeepit in place andshiclditat all times, and the spring acting; bytension to produce the necessary reaction. (louplings'are alrendy known inwhich a slidejs' pressed forward by a coiled nictnllic spring in ,the rear, io hol lsthc coupling-pin elevated. Metallic'springs are liable to breakin cold .wcather, or itoxen in, espcc'iallywhcii compressed: jIn tny case the rubberspring is enclosed in the" slide, at thnt no or'snow can reach iii-,cmd it therefore cannot freeze in. The construction is also such as. tokce'p thespring in its place 'and equalize its action. Besides this, the spring, noting by tension, is much more. elastic and efi'cctive than itw'ould beii"acting.hycompr-cssion, and drnwingforward lengthwise ofthe-slide itself it acts more readily upon it. i

' I do not clnim a slide pressed fo -"u'nrd bye inetsllic spring, as I am aware that the samc'i s not new; but

Whet hold-l!!! as my invention, is- I v Thecombination of the springE' wi't'li'the c'giclosingslidel) and cascf, wronged insuch omonncr'thnt the spring acts by thetension of its main body and compressionoil-its parts It le'sihuzltzrneously to resist the thrust. i of the couplingdink, substantially os set forth. I I v i I In. witnesswhereof, I huvehercunto signed my name-in the presence of two subscribing witnesses;

' JOHN FORTIER,

Witnesses-:- Br F. 053001);

I. A. Dnvrs. 

